A Country of Mountains and Villages

 Windy, downhill roads snake along the steep edge of the river, carrying colorful trucks and packed buses through the mountains away from Kathmandu. The scenery is a mix of the jungles of Thailand and the steep, bold mountains of Machu Picchu. Despite the drowsy effects of the anti-nausea medicine we had been advised to take, I fought to keep my eyes open to see every village, every green outline of the next mountain, and every long suspension bridge that stretched across the rolling river below. Stopping for a traditional Nepali tea break and then a lunch of Dahl Baht helped break up the four to five hour trip; soon we ourselves were crossing a bridge and crawling up and up towards the Gorkha Bazaar which sits on top of one of these green giants, looking into a valley of rice fields below.

           As you can imagine, it was a relief to be out of the city. The layers of mountains are a reminder of what Nepal really is: a country of mountains and villages. "It is beautiful, but life is very hard out here," Prava-ji, our Nepali language teacher, reminds us. Our drive takes us passed patches of women crouched in the rice field, others herding or carrying animals along the uphill road. Robin-ji also points out two of the selected schools on our way up and we stretch to catch a glimpse at the buildings.

        The Gorkha Inn where we stayed has a beautiful view of the valley, when it's not fogged in from the morning clouds. We are told the Himalayas are visible from here in early October, after the rainy season has passed. But in July they are layered behind a thick streak of clouds, painted across the sky just above the green tops of the surrounding so called "hills". Two or three times we were pleasantly surprised to see the peak of a snow capped mountain just barely visible through a gap in the clouds. The peaks are always higher up than I imagined they would be, stretching to a part of the sky I would imagine only for the sun or the moon. I'm sure a clear view of the Nepali skyline will be breathtaking.
            Our second day in Gorkha we filed back into our microbus to visit the three families and schools in Gorkha. Meeting the families and the students made the experience feel so real. Each school was so different, but as we met the students and teachers it was easy to see that we could all be happy at any of the places. It's the relationships with students and families that will eventually make each house a home. But it's wonderful to be able to get a glimpse of the families and schools before choosing where we will spend the next 8 months. For me, the decision will not be an easy one. I loved the first school for it's beautiful, remote location away from the Bazaar, the second for the loving, energy of it's teachers, and the third for it's high need and lack of resources. There are pictures below to give you a sense. I am in love with all of them, and grateful that our trip to see the Lalitpur schools and families is only one day away.

School Number One

School Number Two

School Number Three

               Our stay in Gorkha ended with a long hike up to a famous temple on top of the hill. The castle-like palace looked out to both sides of the mountain, framing perfect views for the hidden himalayas. Come fall, the place will offer a serene panoramic view. For now, the winding road brings through more villages and mountains, back to the bustle of Kathmandu.